What does multilingualism and travel have to do with global citizenship and wanting to change the world?
You may be wondering, what does learning languages and travelling have to do with changing the world? Gugulethu Jemaine Nyathi, one of the winners of the “Many Languages, One World” essay contest and speaker at the Global Youth Forum, gives us a glimpse into the power of multilingualism.
Their ideas and reflections have inspired us in our mission: To help young people discover and understand the world they live in through international, immersive, educational experiences and the promotion of a responsible lifestyle. For this reason, today we want to share some of them with you. Here we go!
What role does multilingualism play?
“From personal experience, I can attest to the changes in my character and attitude after mastering a new language and, consequently, learning more about a culture that I thought I already understood.
The effort involved in learning languages and cultures by going deeper than what I had seen or been told has taught me not to take first impressions and deeply ingrained stereotypes seriously.
I finally understood that no matter how difficult a task may seem, learning a new language is a process that, when completed, leaves an incredible mark on the learner.
“I learned the largely unknown stories behind famous festivals, foods, and traditions. I discovered that every aspect of these cultures has deeper roots and holds meaning beyond beautiful performances, unique architecture, fun music, and mesmerizing dances. I finally came to understand why these cultures mean so much to so many people, and why we should all treat their diverse cultural legacies with the respect they deserve.”

At Plan Zero we couldn’t agree more when he says:
“When you take the time to truly understand another person’s culture, others will take the time to understand yours. And so, without even realizing it, you will have managed to create a positive impact of infinite reach.”
Most of us are familiar with the concept of putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes or looking at a situation from another’s perspective. But in reality, putting this into practice can be difficult when we know and understand very little about the other person. If we could all take the initiative to learn and therefore understand languages and cultures we don’t know, we would make the world a much better place.”
At Plan Zero we want to help young people in their process as part of global citizenship and #changemakers. For this reason, the voices of those young people who are changing the world always have their place here.
We know that learning English is key, we have been hearing it since we were children. But, have you ever considered this way of understanding multilingualism?
Changemakers, it’s time to travel, learn another language and change the world!
Contact Plan Zero without obligation and start drawing up your plan.


